Adjustable tubular wall structure for connectors and the like

ABSTRACT

A flexible, adjustable tube which comprises a tubular body of pleated asymmetrical accordion fold configuration wherein each pleat is defined by a thrust cone wall segment and a Belleville washer-like wall segment. The narrower ends of the two wall segments are integrally connected to form an annular articulation about a central axis and the wider ends of the individual Belleville washer wall segments of each pleat are integrally connected to the wider ends of the thrust cones of the next succeeding pleat, to form an annular articulation about the central axis. The Belleville washer-like wall segments of each pleat are proportioned to be snap shifted through the articulation of same to the thrust cone of the next adjacent pleat, for shortening or lengthening the tube. Similar partial snap shifting of the individual Belleville washer wall segments may be effected, for angulating the tubular body, by canting the thrust cone wall segment of a selected pleat sidewise.

This invention relates to an adjustable tubular wall structure fortubular connectors, conduits, containers, and the like, and moreparticularly, to a pleated tubular body that is extensible,contractible, or partially extensible and/or contractible, bothlongitudinally and laterally thereof, and/or may be angled relative toits central axis, at one or more locations along its length, foraccommodating, for instance, a connection between out of alignmentdischarge and intake ports or apertures in the plumbing field, and yetbe stable when adjusted to define any one, some, or all of theserelations.

It is a common problem in many fields that a tubular connector that hassome degree of adjustability or adaptability must be provided toconnect, for instance, spaced apart drain or duct openings or ports thatare not aligned, and that are to be connected, for instance, for fluidflow from one to another or perhaps with periodic reverse flow beingprovided for, with the problem being commonly accommodated by providinga flexible tube or hose that may be readily flexed or shaped toaccommodate the misalignment connection involved. It is often desirablethat the connection forming tube be extendable or contractiblelengthwise thereof to accommodate specific applications so that theconnecting tube may be offered in standard lengths that have theadjustability needed to make a neat connection without requiringoverlength sizes or cutting of the tubing to make the connectionsdesired.

In the plumbing field, for instance, it is often necessary in installingdrain systems to connect the drain outlet of basins or sinks forlavatories or laboratories, or the like, to traps or other sump likeinlets that are not aligned with the drain outlet, and this is commonlydone using tubing formed, for instance, from a suitable polyolefin, andhaving upper and lower straight and rigid, or relatively rigid, tubularsections that are integrally connected together by a flexible pleatedsection that can be extended or contracted and angled by flexing thepleated section to make the fit desired. The upper straight tubularsection is secured to the basin or sink drain in some conventional sealtight manner, and the connecting tube is flexed at its pleated portionto align the lower section with the trap or the like, with excising ofthe lower section being effected as needed, and the lower section sealedtight connected to the trap or the like using conventional implementswell known to the art. Reference may be had to Itzler U.S. Pat. Nos.4,081,190 and 4,165,110 for examples of this type of device.

Connection implements of this type, while being flexible at the pleatedsection, have little or no stability at the pleated section as disposedin the adjusted relation due to the elastic memory involved in thematerial forming the connector. Thus, the pleated section when extended,contracted, or angled from its normal rectilinear position tends toreturn to its normal straight line relation, thereby subjecting theoutlet or end port structures its ends are connected to, and the sealsthat are employed for this purpose, to undesirable localized anddistorting stresses that can adversely affect the seal provided. Using amaterial that is freely flexible can create problems of lack ofdurability and corrosion resistance, and the use of semi-rigidmaterials, as such, to make implements of this type can result in theimplement being too stiff to effectively manipulate as needed withoutexperiencing breakage, this problem sometimes being partially alleviatedby varying the thickness connector wall section along its pleatedsecond, which greatly complicates design and production of same.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a tubular wallstructure for tubular connectors, conduiting, containers, and the like,that is in the form of a tubular body of pleated accordion foldconfiguration formed from a semi-rigid but resiliently flexible materialof substantially uniform gauge along its length, with the tubular bodybeing extensible and contractible or partially in either direction,and/or angled laterally for, in the case of serving as a connector,providing substantially precise adjustment to fit and make theconnection desired, yet be fully stable along the length of same in itsset adjusted position or contour for securement at its ends to make theconnection desired free of stresses at the connected end portionsinvolved that might otherwise be due to elastic memory or other stressesintroduced into the wall structure by shaping it to fit the applicationthat would in turn effect stress applications to such connections.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a pleatedaccordion fold tubular body for use in connecting spaced apart ports,apertures, and the like for fluid flow conducting or other ductingpurposes, in which the individual pleats have a pop in, pop out,relation for partially or wholly contracting and extending the tubing,or for angling the tubing ends as needed by utilizing the pop in actionto partially contract or telescope one or more pleats on one side of thebody so as to cant a part of the pleat to provide the angulationdesired, with each such pleat being separately so cantable, and at achoice of location and adjustment of 360 degrees thereabout formaximizing precise adjustment in configuration of the tubular body as itis to be applied to make the connection desired.

Another principal object of the invention is to provide a pleatedaccordion fold imperforate tubular body for use in connecting aperturesand ports for drain and ducting purposes, which, in addition to beingextendible, contractible, and angulatable with full stability in eachand all such relations is also expandable radially of its central axis,by adjusting the tubular body to its contracted relation, which permitsits use as a temporary repair for leaks in the sides of pipes orconduiting that are under low pressure conditions, by contracting thetubular body lengthwise thereof to achieve its expanding relation,applying it over the portion of the pipe or conduit having the defect,and clamping the ends of the tubular body to the exterior or the pipe orconduit using conventional pipe seal clamp devices or fittings.

Still other important objects of the invention are to provide a pleatedaccordion fold tubular body that is of a special asymmetrical pleatedconfiguration, which tubular body is readily adapted for general purposeuse, that is formed from a semirigid resiliently flexible polyolefin ofsubstantially uniform gauge that is of film thickness proportions, whichtubular body is arranged for snap action pop in and pop out contractionand extension lengthwise thereof, either on a selected pleat by pleatbasis, or for all its pleats, and that also provides for partial pop inand pop out action of selected pleats, and positionally as selected oradjusted 360 degrees thereabout, for canting individual pleats forselected angular adjustment purposes, with the tubular body as soadjusted being fully stable in all three relations through its length,but permitting repeated similar adjustments by the user as the needsarise.

Yet other important objects of the invention are to provide a pleatedfold tubular body that is semirigid in nature, but is resilientlyflexible, while providing for snap action contraction, extension, andangulation of the body for stabilized, precise fit, adjustment purposes,with full and reliable stability in any and all such relations, toprovide a tubular body of the type indicated that is adapted forincorporation in a wide variety of plumbing type connection devices, aswell as such diverse structures as ducting or hose lengths, containers,and arms for toy robots, and that is economical of manufacture,convenient to work with, install, use, and that is long lived inapplication.

In accordance with the invention, an adjustable tubular wall structurefor tubular connectors, conduits, containers, and the like, is providedin which the wall structure comprises a tubular body of pleated,asymmetrical accordion fold, configuration, formed from a suitablesemirigid resiliently flexible material (such as polypropylene) ofsubstantially uniform gauge that may be of film thickness dimensions,that has a central axis extending centrally and longitudinally of same,of which each pleat is defined by an axially longer thrust cone wallsegment and an axially shorter Belleville washer wall segment, in whichthe narrower or smaller ends of the two wall segments are integrallyconnected to form annular articulations therebetween and thereabout, andthe wider or larger ends of the pleat Belleville washer wall segmentsare integrally connected to the wider or larger ends of the thrust conesof the next adjacent pleat, to form annular articulations therebetweenand thereabout with such articulations respectively forming the rootsand crowns of the pleating. The Belleville washer wall segments of eachpleat are proportioned to be snap shifted through the articulation ofsame to the thrust cone well segment of the next adjacent pleat, intointernally seated relation with such thrust cone wall segment, forcontracting or lengthening the tubular body after it has beencontracted, with such articulation including an integral annularprotuberance thereabout that controls the axial thrust needed for thatpurpose.

Partial snap shifting of such Belleville washer wall segments is alsoprovided for whereby the thrust cone of the pleat is manually cantablesidewise of the tubular body by way of the resulting partial deflectionof the Belleville washer wall segment of the pleat in question, into thethrust cone of the next adjacent pleat. Such canting action at theindividual pleats provides a predetermined angulation of the tubularmember at such pleat, with similar angulation of adjacent pleatssimilarly increasing the angulation provided, which may be located to bein other than in coplanar relation with the tubular body as a whole,with 360 degrees choice being provided for with regard to each pleat,either by way of direct angulation, or adjustment of same about thecentral axis of the tubular body.

In all these relations of the tubular body involved, namely itsextended, contracted, angled, or any partially effected relation of oneof these types, the tubular body is stabilized in its adjusted positionat and between its ends, whereby precise adjustment lengthwise andlaterally of the tubular body may be effected to make the connectiondesired if that is the intent of the user, with assurance that theconnection providing device will remain as adjusted, and be free ofunbalanced stresses between and along the ends of same.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will become obvious or be apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description and theapplication drawings in which like reference numerals indicate likeparts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the invention embodied in a plumbing device forconnecting two pipe or conduit ends that may be aligned (as shown) orout of alignment, for connecting the pipe conduit ends for fluid flowtherebetween or any other purpose, with part of the pleated sectionbeing shown broken away to simplify the drawing, and the standard nutand washer type seals employed at each end of the device (for thispurpose), being shown in exploded relation and in partial section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental longitudinal sectional view through the pleatedsection of the device of FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale, anddiagrammatically illustrating the structural arrangement of the specialasymmetrical pleating involved, and when in its extended relation;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but shows the pleated section in theprocess of being contracted longitudinally of same, by snap or popshifting of an annular wall segment of one of the pleats into socketedrelation with an annular wall segment of the next succeeding pleat;

FIG. 3A is similar to FIG. 3, but shows the contracted socketed relationof the pleat shown being so processed in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, but shows the pleated section of theconnector with all of its pleats in the snap pop shifted, contractedrelation for shortening the connector longitudinally of same, andexpanding its pleated section radially of same;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to those of FIGS. 2 and 3, but with twoadjacent pleats of the pleated section shown in the half popped or snapshifted, half socketed relation that provides for angulation positioningof the pleated section;

FIG. 6 is similar to that of FIG. 5, but shows the pleated section withtwo pleats in half popped or snap shifted relation on one side of theconnector, and two other pleats in half popped or snap shifted relationon the other side of the connector involved, for disposing the ends ofthe pleated section in parallel but misaligned relations;

FIG. 7 is similar to that of FIGS. 5 and 6, but shows the pleatedsection pleats consecutively half popped or snap fitted into socketedrelation with adjacent pleats along one side of the pleated section soas to establish a 90 degree bend in the connector;

FIG. 8 is a view of the connector of FIG. 1, with the pleated sectionfully contracted lengthwise of same for expanding the internal diameterof the pleated section, so that the device of FIG. 1 may be applied asindicated in overlying relation to a cracked pipe, to serve as atemporary repair for same, with parts being shown in section and otherparts being broken away to better illustrate the general arrangementinvolved;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view showing the invention applied to analternate form of connecting device, arranged in accordance with theinvention, employed to connect the outlet of a sink or lavoratory basin,namely the tailpiece of same, to a trap that is not aligned with thetailpiece;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating the inventionincorporated in a tubular body suitable for ducting or hose use, and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, partially in section, showing acontainer that embodies the pleated section of the tubular body of thisinvention, with the container being shown in partially contractedrelation.

However, it is to be distinctly understood that the specific drawingillustrations provided are supplied primarily to comply with therequirements of the Patent Laws, and that the invention is susceptibleof modifications and variations that will be obvious to those skilled inthe art, and that are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Reference numeral 10 of FIGS. 1 and 8 generally indicates the inventionincorporated in a basic connector that serves, for instance, as aplumbing tool for connecting, in drain systems the end of one pipe tothe end of another pipe for, for instance, conveying fluid from one pipeto the other, and for purposes of this invention it is to be understoodthat the two pipe ends to be connected may be aligned as shown or out ofalignment (for instance, as shown in FIG. 9) and perhaps may even be inangled relation to each other.

In the simplified tubular connector device in which the invention isembodied in the showing of FIG. 1, the device 10 comprises a tubularmember or body 12 comprising straight end portions or sections 14 and 16which are integrally connected by the special pleated section 18 that isarranged in accordance with the invention to provide for contraction,extension, and angulation of the device 10 as needed to preciselyposition the device for sealed connection to the pipe ends in questionfree of unbalanced stresses that do not contribute to the sealing actionprovided.

The tubular member 12 is of one piece construction and is preferablyformed from a suitable polyolefin, such as polypropylene, as byemploying a suitable blow-molding operation, with the end sections 14and 16 being suitably threaded as at 20 for threadedly receiving astandard nut 22 that fits over and against a standard sealing washer 24,formed from rubber, nylon, or the like, for seal clamping the threadedend portions of the section 14 and 16 to, for instance, the respectivepipe ends 23 and 25 in the well known conventional manner (see, forinstance, FIG. 8).

Referring to FIG. 2, and specifically to the specifics of the pleatedsection 18, the tubular member or body 12 of which the pleated section18 forms a part is preferably formed from a semi-rigid resilientlyflexible material of a substantially uniform gauge along the length ofthe tubular body 12, or at least its pleated section 18, that for manyapplications may be of film thickness dimensions, with the tubular body12 defining an encompassing wall 26 of tubular configuration thatextends the length of same, and having a central axis 28 extendingcentrally and longitudinally of same. The straight sections 14 and 16 ofthe specific connector 10 shown are of cylindrical configuration and areconventionally shaped so as to define the threading 20. At the pleatedsection 18, the wall 26, in accordance with the invention, definesindividual pleats 30 that are of the accordion fold configuration, butare asymmetrical in shaping, with the wall 26 in the area of the pleatedsection 18 being shaped to define at each pleat 30 a thrust cone wallsegment 32 and a Belleville washer wall segment 34. As clearly broughtout in FIG. 2, the thrust cone wall segment 32 and the Belleville washerwall segment 34 are both of frusto-conical configuration,, with theindividual thrust cone wall segments 32 each defining a relatively wideend portion 36 at one end of same and a relatively narrow end portion 38at the other end of same, and the Belleville washer wall segments 34each defining a relatively wide end portion 40 at one end of same, and arelatively narrow end portion 42 at the other end of same.

For each pleat 30, the wall segments 32 and 34 of same are integrallyconnected at their respective narrower or smaller end portions 38 and 42to define annular hinged connections or articulations 45 therebetween,which also form the roots 44 of the pleats 30. The wide or larger endportion 40 of each Belleville washer wall segment 34 is integral withthe wider or larger end portion 36 of the thrust cone wall segment 32 ofthe next consecutive pleat 30 adjacent to it, to form the crowns 46 ofthe pleats, and also define radially outwardly distensible or expandableannular articulations 47 or hinged connections between the integrallyconnected Belleville washer wall segments and thrust cone wall segments,respectively.

It will be noted that when the pleated section 18 is in its rectilinearextended relation that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the articulations 47lie in a plane that extends normally of the tubular body central axis28, and the individual pleat crowns 46 are coplanar with such plane inthe case of the individual pleats 30. The articulation 45 of each pleat30 lies in a plane, that in the rectilinear relation of the tubular body26, is also normally disposed with respect to the central axis 28 andincludes the root 44 of the respective pleats 30.

Further in accordance with the invention, the pleat crowns 46 eachinclude an integral, externally disposed, annular rib or protuberance 48that is in circumambient relation about the respective crowns 46, whichis provided in accordance with the invention to resiliently resistdistension of the crowns 46 radially outwardly of the plane of therespective crowns 46, when the tubular body 26 is to be contracted fromthe relation of FIGS. 1 and 2, to, for instance, the retracted relationsof FIGS. 3 and 4, or vice versa. Thus, the dimensions of the annularprotuberances 48 radially and longitudinally of the axis 28 controls theamount of thrust that needs to be employed longitudinally of the tubularbody 20 to contract or extend same, as is about to be described. Theprotuberances 48 actually are in the nature of hollow O-rings 49 thatare open on the internal side of the tubular wall 26 and are integrallyconnected with the pleats 30 at and externally about their respectivecrowns 46.

As indicated, the pleats 30 are of asymmetrical configuration, and thethrust cone wall segments 32 have a height or depth dimension lengthwiseof the axis 28 that approximates about twice the corresponding dimensionof the Belleville washer wall segments 34. Further, in the extendedrelation of the pleated section 18, for each pleat 30 the thrust conewall segments 32 at their narrower ends 38 are substantiallyperpendicular to the corresponding narrow ends 42 of the Bellevillewasher wall segment 34 of same (see FIG. 2). The wall segments 32 and34, while being basically of frusto-conical configuration are alsoarched somewhat spherically, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, to provideeach such wall segment with arch type strength or resistance againstdeformation or deflection, in addition to the semi-rigid nature of thematerial from which the wall structure 26 is formed.

A feature of the invention is that the relationship of componentsinvolved in each pleat 30 of pleated section 18 is such that theBelleville washer wall segment 34 of each pleat 30 may be wholly orpartially snap shifted or popped across the respective articulations 47into socketed and internally seated relation with the thrust cone wallsegment 32 of the next succeeding pleat, and this being done in anymanner that will subject the pleated section 18 to compressive stressacting longitudinally of its central axis 28. When this is done, wherethe Belleville washer wall segment 34 of one pleat 30, for instance, thepleat 30A of FIG. 3, is to be snap shifted into the thrust cone wallsegment 32 of the next adjacent pleat 30B, the compressive forcesinvolved act on the thrust cone 32 in question to push the Bellevillewasher wall segment 34 involved into over centered relation and into areversely arched, socketed and internally seated, relation with theindicated next succeeding wall segment 32 of the next pleat 30B, asshown in FIG. 3A.

Thus, as indicated by the arrows 50 of FIG. 3, the tubular member orbody 12 may be contracted longitudinally of its central axis 28 bypressing one of its ends toward the other and so that a thrust cone wallsegment 32 of one of the pleats 30, for instance pleat 30A, acts on theBelleville washer wall segment 34 of that pleat, at its articulation orhinged connection 45, to shift the pleat wall segment 34 in questionfrom its positioning indicated in FIG. 2 to the radially disposedposition of FIG. 3, for the pleat 30A, in which it is in coplanarrelation with the articulation 47 with the next adjacent thrust conewall segment 32, and thence to an over or passed center relation tosame, in which the acted on wall segment 34 is socketed into and seatsagainst, as at 49, the thrust cone wall segment 32 of the nextsucceeding pleat 30B, as indicated in FIG. 3A. In achieving thiscontracted relation, insofar as the pleats 30A and 30B are concerned,the pleated section 18 is shortened or contracted approximately twicethe length of the indicated wall segment 34 lengthwise of the centralaxis 28, and the seating of the indicated wall segment 34 against thewall segment 32 of the next succeeding pleat is against the insidesurfacing 54 thereof 360 degrees thereabout, with the indicated wallsegment 34 being reversibly arched, as indicated in FIG. 3A.

Generally speaking, it is immaterial which pleat 30 is acted on in thismanner to shorten or contract the tubular body 26 lengthwise thereof,and where all the pleats 30 are so contracted, as suggested by theshowing of FIG. 4, the tubular body 26 is shortened a correspondingamount for each pleat of the pleated section 18.

The tubular body 12, and namely its side wall 26 is extended from thecontracted relation indicated at FIG. 4 by suitably tensioning the body26, as by pulling the ends of same away from each other, whereby theBelleville washer wall segments 34 are snap shifted or popped in thereverse manner across the articulations 47 to dispose them in theextended relation of the pleats 30 that is illustrated in FIG. 2, withthe length of the tubular wall increasing axially thereof approximatelytwice the length of the contracted wall segments 34 (axially of wall 26)that are involved. The wall segments 34 have thus been returned to theiroriginal arched relation of FIG. 2.

Further in accordance with the invention, when the tubular body 12 is inits fully contracted relation, as by the snap or pop closing of all ofthe pleats 30 in the manner that is indicated, the internal diameter ofthe body at its pleated section 18 is enlarged radially of the centralaxis 28. As indicated by the showing of FIG. 3, as the pleat wallsegments 34 are snap shifted or popped past the articulations 47 at thepleat crowns 46, an outward distending action is effected on the pleatcrowns 46, and when the wall segments 34 are socketed into the wallsegment 32 of the next succeeding pleats 30, as, for instance, pleat 30Bof FIG. 3, the socketed wall segments 34 are seated against the internalsurfacings 54 of the wall segments 32 in question to hold the crowns 46in a somewhat reduced but still radially enlarged relation, over thatindicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The ribs or protuberances 48 that aredefined by O-rings 49 bias the pleats 30 to hold same in either theextended or contracted relation, and against the overcenter pop or snapchanging action that has been described and illustrated. The biasing andresistance action provided by the ribs or protuberances 48 may beadjusted by varying the proportions of same radially and axially of thewall 26, with respect to the wall segments 32 and 34 of the pleatedsection 18; as indicated, this controls the axially acting forces neededto contract or extend the pleated section 18.

The contractibility and extensibility of the tubular member or body 12,and specifically, its pleated section 18, that has been described,provides for flexibility of the pleated section longitudinally of thetubular body 12. An additional feature of the invention is that thepleated section 18 may also be angled in a similar manner therebyproviding for angling flexibility of the tubular member or body 12 eventhough it is formed from a semirigid material.

In the showing of FIG. 5, one way of adjusting the tubular body 26 forangulation purposes is illustrated. The angulation involved is obtainedby reason of the fact that for each pleat 30, the wall segments 34thereof may be only partially socketed into the wall segment 32 of thenext succeeding pleat 30, this being done by angulating the tubular body26 so that, for instance, at a pleat 30C, the wall segment 34 at oneside or section 59 of same is partially snapped across the articulation47 connecting it to the wall segment 32 of the next succeeding pleat,for instance, the pleat 30D, to seat the indicated wall segment 34against the internal surfacing 54 of the indicated wall segment 32 at arelatively small area of engagement at one location along the annularinternal surfacing 54 defined by the wall segment 32 in question. Insuch angled relation for a particular pleat 30C, the wall segment 34 isdeflected toward the wall segment 32 of the next succeeding pleat 30Dapproximately 180 degrees thereabout to effect a predetermined amount ofangulation of the tubular body 26 relative to its central axis 28, forinstance, 10 degrees. By similarly socketing the wall segment 34 of thenext succeeding pleat 30D into the pleat 30E, and at the same locationalong the circumference of side wall of the tubular body 26, so that theangle portions of same are in coplanar relation, a second angulationunit is added to the angulation, which if the parts are proportioned togive an angulation for each pleat 30 of 10 degrees, would provide a 20degree angulation of the tubular body 26. Similarly, partially socketingadjacent pleats will provide for increased angulation, such as for the90 degree angulation indicated in FIG. 7. The angulation may be 180degrees or more for a particular tubular body 12 if it is provided witha pleated section 18 having the requisite number of pleats 30. Thenumber of pleats 30 employed to define pleated section 18 of body 12 isoptional and will depend, for any given structure provided with apleated section 18 in accordance with the invention, on the use to whichsuch structure is to be put.

The angulation provided for partial snap or pop shifting for partialsocketing of the respective pleats (that has been indicated) will dependon the size of the tubing involved, and specifically, will depend on theratio that diameter of the pleat crown bears to the radial length of thepleat convolutions (that is, the difference between the outer diameterof the pleat crowns and the outer diameter of the pleat roots). For theproportioning of parts illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the angulation providedper pleat partial pop or snap shift is approximately 10 degrees.

In the showing of FIG. 6, the socketing described in connection with theshowing of FIG. 5 is provided at the pleats 30C, 30D, and 30E, with asimilar partial socketing being provided at the pleats 30F, 30G and 30C,but on the opposite side of the tubular body 12, which has the effect ofdisposing the end portions 14 and 16 of the tubular body 12 insubstantially parallel but misaligned, oppositely extending relations.

In this connection, it is pointed out that with regard to the partialsocketing feature of the invention that has been described, for any onepleat 30, this may be effected at any location 360 degrees thereabout,with a similar partial socketing being effected at one or more pleats 30spaced from the partially socketed pleat in question, and at otherlocations 360 degrees thereabout, as desired by the user or as needed bythe application. This will dispose the end of the pleated portion 18,and thus the ends of the tubular body 12 at angles relative to eachother which are not coplanarly related, and which may, for instance, beangled to the front or rear of the showing of FIGS. 5 and 6, orotherwise angled, for further adjustable flexibility of the tubular body26.

It has also been found that when one of the pleats 30 has been partiallysocketed for angulation purposes in the manner indicated, the thuspartially socketed and angled pleat is stably held in such angledrelation and it also may be swung or rotated, about axis 28, and ineffect rolled about the wall segment 32 into which it has been partiallysocketed, to dispose the angled portion of the pleated section at thedesired position of angulation, with regard to the circumference of body12. Other pleats may be similarly partially socketed and rolled 360degrees thereabout to provide the desired positioning of the angledtubular body portions involved, to achieve multiple angular positioningof the tubular body ends.

In all of these operative relations of the pleated section 18 insofar asthe body 26 is concerned, the body 12 is stable in its adjustedrelation. Thus, the body 12 and specifically its pleat section 18 in itsextended relation of FIGS. 1 and 2 is stable due to the specialasymmetrical shaping of the pleats 30 that is involved, and particularlythe wall segments 32 and 34 thereof, together with the semirigid natureof the material from which the tubular body 26 is formed. While thematerial is semirigid in nature, it is also resiliently flexible so thatthe conventional seals applied to the threaded ends 20 are effective inuse in the conventional manner. However, the body 12 at its pleatedsection 18 has its wall segments 32 and 34 shaped and proportioned toresist the snap shifting or popping that has been referred to untiladequate pressure is applied to achieve the resiliently flexibledeformation or flexing that has been referred to.

In the contracted relation of the body 12, as illustrated by FIGS. 3Aand 4, the socketed relation of the popped in pleats 30, and theengagement of the wall segments 34 thereof with the inner surfacings 54of the wall segments 32 of the next succeeding pleats thereof 360degrees thereabout, insures stability of the tubular body lengthwise andtransversely of same after it has been adjusted for applicationpurposes.

When the tubular body 12 is to be angularly related, as by employing thepartial socketing relations described in connection with the showings ofFIGS. 5-7, the seating of the partially socketed wall segments 34against the inner surfacing 54 of the wall segment 32 of the nextsucceeding pleat 30 provides a bracing action that together with thesemirigid nature of the material involved, and the arched configurationof the wall segments 32 and 34, insures stability in the angled adjustedposition of the tubular body 12.

It is to be understood that the basic aspects of the invention areconcerned with the specific arrangement of the tubular body 12 insofaras the pleated section 18 is concerned. In practice the pleated section18 may be incorporated in tubular bodies used for a wide variety ofpurposes, several of which are indicated in the showings of FIGS. 8-11.Thus, while the pleated sections are particularly useful in connectionwith connecting devices employed for plumbing drain system and otherplumbing purposes, the pleated section 18 may also be employed in theform of ducting for automobile venting purposes and electrical conduitreceiving purposes, hose lengths of any given standard length in whichthe entire length of the hose has the configuration of the pleatedsection 18, and as the tubular member employed form the arms and legs oftoy robots. The same pleated configuration may be employed incontainers, as the side wall structure for the container, to provide acontainer of adjustable volume.

For connecting devices for plumbing drain system and other plumbingpurposes, the gauge of the material forming the pleated section 18should be uniform through out the axial length of same, and preferablyshould be in the range of from about 0.030 inch to about 0.070 inch,depending on the application (for fluid conveying purposes, body 12should, of course, be imperforate). However, the gauge may also rangefrom about 0.005 inch to about 0.25 for specific applications, as forinstance, drains arranged as suggested in connection with thedescription of FIG. 11 may have a gauge at the larger end of the scale,while an appropriate polyolefin material, such as polypropylene, asuitable metal, such as copper, may also be employed.

Also, for plumbing drain system and other plumbing purposes, the gaugeof the material at the pleated section 18 may be somewhat less than atstraight sections 14 and 16, but the mass per unit length of the pleatedsection is preferably about equal to the mass per unit length of thestraight sections, in the extended relation of the pleated section. Inthe fully contracted relation the pleated section will have a mass perunit length that obviously exceeds that of the straight sections becauseof the telescoped relation involved.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

The device 10 arranged as indicated in FIG. 1 may be employed to connectadjacent ends of separate pipes together, as by selecting a device 10 ofthe needed length to span the gap between the pipes 23 and 25, andoverlap the ends of the pipe ends to be connected, first applying thenuts 22 and the sealing washers 24 to the respective ends of the pipes(being connected) in the usual manner, and then taking the tubular body12, adjusting it lengthwise of same and angulation wise of same so thatits straight ends 14 and 16 will slip over the ends of the pipes inquestion, and then tightening the nuts 22 against the seals 24 utilizingthe threadings 20 in the usual manner. For this purpose, the pleatedsection 18 is contracted, angled, and reextended as needed, followingthe principles described in connection with the showing of FIGS. 3-7, asneeded to precisely flex the pleated section 18 of the tubular body 26for good fitting relation with the pipe ends in question.

In the showing of FIG. 8, the device 10 is shown employed to provide atemporary seal for a crack 70 of a plastic pipe 72. The device 10 may beused in this manner by assuming that the device 10 in question isselected in terms of size so that its internal diameter of its straightsections 14 and 16, and thus of the pleated section roots 44, isproportioned to suitably fit over pipe 72, disconnecting the pipe 72 atits closest end portion, and slipping one of the nuts 22 and the washer24 therefor over the pipe end and beyond the crack 70, then contractingthe tubular body 12 at its pleated section 18 so that all of its pleats30 are in socketed relation, and slipping tubular body 12 as socontracted over the pipe 72 to the position indicated in FIG. 8, withits pleated section 18 in overlying relation to the crack 70, and thenapplying the other sealing nut 22 and seal 20 over the pipe; thereafter,the ends of the device 10 are sealed to the external surface of the pipe72 by threading the nuts 22 about the threadings 20 against therespective seals 24 in the conventional manner that is known to the art,and as shown in FIG. 8. The body 12 being imperforate in nature alongits length, and the contracted relation of the pleated section 18 havingthe added internal radial dimensioning that has been indicated, providesfor easy slipping of the tubular body 26 over the pipe 72 forapplication in sealing relation in the manner indicated to the crack 70.The pipe 72 open end in question may then be reconnected for continueduse of the pipe 72 until permanent repairs can be made.

In the showing of FIG. 9, the body 12B is employed to connect a standardtailpiece 90 of a sink or basin to a standard trap 92. The tubular body12B defines plumbing connector device 10B that is of unitary blow-moldedplastic tubular construction and formed from a material such aspolypropyle to define an upper straight section 94 and a lower straightsection 96, which are integrally connected by pleated section 18B thatis arranged in accordance with the teachings of FIGS. 1-7.

The upper portion of the upper section 94 is threaded in the mannerindicated for the straight sections 14 and 16 of the device 10, and thusto define the threading 20 that threadedly receives the standard nut 98which is applied against the usual sealing washer that is comparable towasher 24 (not shown). The nut 98 and the seal it bears againstinitially is slipped over the end of the tailpiece 90 and are followedby application of the device straight section 94 over same, after whichthe nut 98 is tightened on the threading of the upper section 94 tocompress the washer to effect the usual seal between the section 94 andthe tailpiece 90; as indicated by the showing of FIG. 9, the trap 92 isout of alignment with the tailpiece 90, and the pleated section 18B isflexed lengthwise and angularity wise for precise fit application of thedevice 10B to the trap 92, with the lower end of the lower section 96being excised as needed to be received within the trap 92. Lower section96 is equipped with a conventional sealing nut 100 and associated washertype seal (not shown but of the conventional type referred to above) formaking the familiar application of same to threading at the upstandingend of the trap 92, as is well known in the art.

In the showing of FIG. 10, the length of ducting or hose 80 isillustrated which may have any desired length, and which for its fulllength except at its extreme ends 82 and 84 is pleated to define theindividual pleats 30 for the full length of pleated section 18A of theducting or hosing 80 in question that is formed by body 12A. Suchducting or hose 80 may be used for any purpose that conventional ductingor hosing is currently used for, as, for instance, commonly inautomobiles for venting purposes, and in buildings for air supply ordischarge purposes, and for serving as garden hose. For packagingpurposes, the ducting or hose 80 may be contracted to a fraction of itsextended relation length by disposing all of its pleats 30 in the fullysocketed relation that has been described. Ends 82 and 84 may bestraight sections similar to end sections 14 and 16 of device 10 forsealing type connections of the type indicated in FIGS. 1 and 8, orsuitably threaded, flanged, socketed, or the like for conventionalconnection at their ends as needed for attaching conventional ducting orhosing to use same.

In the showing of FIG. 11, reference numeral 110 illustrates a containerformed from polypropylene or the like to define sidewall 112 thatincludes pleated section 18C that extends substantially the length ofthe sidewall 112 and has the configuration indicated in FIGS. 2 - 7 forcontraction and extension purposes. The container has integral bottomwall 114, an integral top wall 116 defining in the form illustrated anupstanding neck 118 to which a closure cap 120 of any suitable type maybe applied. Other than the cap 120, the container 110 may be of onepiece construction made by a suitable molding procedure.

The sidewall 112 of the container 110 is shown to have its severalpleats 30 in extended and contracted relations at several locationsalong the height of the container, for varying the height or length ofthe container.

Alternately, the container 110 may be in the form of a relatively smallcylindrical shaped can, or be proportioned similarly to the sides of thewell known 55 gallon drum, with the sidewalls of same incorporating thepleated section 18 for varying the capacity of same.

It will therefore be seen that the invention provides a tubular bodythat may serve as a connector, conduit, or container, which includes thespecial pleated section 18 or its equivalents having the contractible,extensible, and angularity adjustments that have been described that areeffected by articulating the pleated section at the annulararticulations or loci that have been described, which define the flexingloci of the device. When the device has been disposed at its pleatedsection to have the extended, contracted, or angled relation indicated,it is stable in all of these relations, once so adjusted by the user.The socketed relation of the pleat Belleville washer wall segments 34into the thrust cone wall segments 32 of the next adjacent peats,whether for full contraction purposes, or for angulation purposes,provides a bracing effect on the tubular body at the socketed area thatenhances stability. For angulation purposes, the ability of thepartially socketed pleats to be rotated or rocked around the axis of thetubular body for positioning it in any desired location 360 degreesthereabout, together with the indicated stability for the angledposition in of same, permits the device to have wide adaptability ofconnecting components that are spaced apart and misaligned, with fullfreedom of undesired shifting or internal bias caused by elastic memory,after the device has been adjusted as desired

The device may be made from other polyolefin materials, such aspolyvinyl chloride, and the high temperature version of same (see PVC),as well as polyethyene and the already suggested polypropylene, forinstance. In a specific embodiment of the invention intended forplumbing drain system applications, the material employed ispolypropylene, the gauge of the pleated section walls is 0.046 inch, theaxial length of the individual pleats is 0.440 inch, the wall segments32 and 34 are angled at 31 degrees and 52 degrees relative to the axialcenter line 28 of the tubular body involved, and the protuberances orribs extend 0.046 axially of the tubular body and 0.046 radially ofsame.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate the invention and the invention is not to be limitedthereto, except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, sincethose skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will beable to make modifications and variations therein without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tubular wall structure for tubularconnectorsand the like, said wall structure comprising: a tubular body of pleatedaccordion fold configuration formed from a semirigid resilientlyflexible material of substantially uniform gauge to define anencompassing wall of tubular configuration that has a longitudinalcentral axis extending centrally and longitudinally of same, said wallbeing formed to define along said central axis alternating thrust conewall segments and Belleville washer like wall segments integrallyconnected consecutively along the length of said pleated section, saidthrust cone wall segments defining a wide end at one end of same and anarrow end portion at the other end of same, said wall segments beingspherically contoured, said Belleville washer like wall segmentsdefining a wide end portion at one end of same and a narrow end portionat the other end of same, said wall segments being sphericallycontoured, with each of said pleats comprising a trust cone wall segmentand a Belleville washer like wall sement integrally connected at theirrespective narrow end portions to define annular articulationstherebetween and form the roots of the pleats, with the wide end portionof each Belleille washer like wall segment of each pleat being integralwith the wide end portion of the thrust cone wall segment of the nextconsecutive pleat to form the crowns of the pleats, said crowns of saidpleats each respectively lying in a plane that extends normally of saidaxis and defining a radially outwardly distensible annular articulationbetween the Belleville washer like wall segment and the thrust cone wallsegment, said wide ends integrally connected thereat including anintegral, externally disposed, protuberance in circumambient relationthereabout for resiliently resisting distension of said crown radiallyoutwardly thereof in the plane of the crown, said Belleville washer likewall segment of each pleat being proportioned to be wholly snap shiftedthrough the said plane at the articulation between same and the thrustcone wall segment of the next adjacent pleat for disposing said pleatsin contracted and extended relation axially of said body, with therespective pleats in their extended relations each having the saidthrust cone wall segment thereof disposed relative to said ellevillewasher like wall segment thereof such that said other end of said thrustcone segment is disposed substantially 90° of said other end of saidBelleville washer like wall segment thereof annularly about said root ofthe respective pleats, said proportioning of said Belleville washer likewall segment at the respective pleats accommodating snap shifting of oneside only of said other end of same through said plane thereof at thesaid articulation thereof within an in stabilized seating relationagainst the thrust cone wall segment of the said next adjacent pleat,for disposing said thrust cone wall segment thereof in angled relationto such next adjacent pleat thrust cone wall segment, whereby saidtubular body is stable in and may be preset, prior to use, in its saidextended, contracted an angled relations.
 2. The wall structure setforth in claim 1 wherein:said protuberances and said crowns of saidpleats are asymmetrical in configuration, and said wall segments are ofsubstantially frusto-conical configuration.
 3. The wall structure setforth in claim 1 wherein:the thrust cone wall segments of each pleat areproportioned to extend axially of said central axis approximately twicethe corresponding amount that said Belleville washer like wall segmentsextend.
 4. The wall structure set forth in claim 1 wherein:said tubularbody includes a flexing loci at said roots and said crowns of saidpleats with said wall segments being in thrust transmitting relationtherebetween.
 5. The wall structure set forth in claim 1 wherein:saidwall structure defines a container that is closed at one end of saidtubular body and that is open at the other end of said tubular body forreception therein of material to be received in said body, and includingmeans for removably closing said other end of said body, whereby saidcontainer is extendable an contractible axially of said body centralaxis.
 6. The wall structure set forth in claim 1 wherein:saidprotuberances are grooved internally of said wall structure, saidprotuberances each being of substantially like dimensions in relation tosaid wall structure.